A spring to remember

Leaders of the greatest baseball team in Peterborough High history.

It rained a lot in the spring of 1967, too.

Conval (aka, “new regional high school”) was in the news a lot, but was only a dream. Meanwhile, there was the “impossible Dream” Red Sox, and two amazing stories from a Conval predecessor.

Peterborough High packed what is now the backyard of PES with fans of all ages in the spring of ‘67 who watched the Hilanders baseball team come within one game of a perfect regular season. Led by brothers Alan and Cary Buxton, Dave Chase, and Dick “Rad” Carlson (pictured), the boys combined solid pitching and hitting to advance to the second round of the state tournament.

“They retired as the greatest baseball team in the school’s history,” it said in the yearbook.

Front (from left): Dave Chase, Don Abbott, Dick Thorner, Cary Buxton, Harvey Goodwin, Kevin Keenan, Alan Buxton and Mike Abbott. Standing: Coach Ray Richard, Shep Burrage, Kris Stewart, Harry Blood, Roger Oja, Wally Aldrich, Dick Latti, Dick Carlson and Ken Moller.

But there was another team in town in 1967. The PHS track and field team won its third consecutive state championship—accomplished unbelievably without a home track!

Featuring depth in all fields. the Hilanders were paced by 880 state champ Ken Taylor, and co-captain Roland Clark (pictured receiving state championship plaque), and high jumper Tom Buckley. They were led by the outstanding work and dedication of Coach Bill Yeo.

Great athletes that paved the way for a winning tradition at Conval three years later. …Maybe it will stop raining long enough so we can enjoy more of that tradition.

#historymatters

#gocougs